Tips for staying fit on vacation

There used to be a time when we’d go on vacation and I’d come back a few pounds heavier. We’d go out for every meal and I hadn’t yet learned to choose smaller, lighter meals for the majority of my meals. It was VACATION and I was going to eat what I wanted. Yeah.

As you know, I just got back from two weeks in Ireland. Guess what? Not only do my pants still fit, I actually lost a couple of pounds. So, it seems pretty fitting that April, Patty, and I decide that the Tuesdays on the Run topic this week would be fitting in running on vacation.

Spoiler: I only ran 19 miles while I was in Ireland. And 13.1 of those were my race. Why? Because we spent most of our time staying out in the country and the roads in Ireland are hella scary!

Hmm… So, I’m coming at this from a different angle: how to stay fit on vacation when regular running is not an option.

1. Register for a race. – This is my favorite option. I love running races away from home. You often get to meet people and see things that you would not otherwise see. And I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time fitting in a 3-5 mile run in a strange place, so a supported half marathon? Yes, please!

2. Find active sightseeing options. – In Ireland, we hiked up to a waterfall and walked up 600+ steps to the top of Skellig Michael (more on that on Thursday). In past vacations, we’ve gone biking and ziplining.

3. Use Google maps street view or other people’s routes on MapMyRun to find running routes. – Sometimes you just need to run. And you need to find a safe place. When we were at our second house in Ireland, we were in a small town. I was able to patch together a 3 mile route that kept me on sidewalks and off the main roads. (Did I mention that Irish roads are scary?)

4. Walk. Walk. And Walk some more. When all else fails, you can put on some serious mileage just sightseeing. We walked around castles and ruins and lots of historical sites in Ireland. We walked a few small towns from one end to the other. We went for a stroll around the grounds of the house we were staying at. Nearly every.single.day we found a place to walk. And while it didn’t give me my endorphins (see #3), it did keep me fit. Oh, and play with your kids. We hit every playground we found!

5. Accept that you can’t always fit in as much as you would like. There were days where I barely moved at all. Flights + drives made some days major “sit” days. Sometimes weather doesn’t cooperate or other plans get in the way. It’s ok. One or even two weeks of taking it easy is not going to be the end of the world. And maybe your body will actually appreciate a bit of a break before you head back into the real world and pick up your usual level of activity!

I wake up before everyone get in some core work, push-ups, squats and jump squats, hit the road for some miles or schedule a race, and I keep it simple when I go out to eat by sharing an appetizer or desert, sticking to salads, and grilled chicken or fish.Half-Crazed Runner recently posted…Recover Faster: Three Great Strategies

Helpful tips! I sometimes struggle with finding safe routes to run in unknown cities but I try to at least stay in a hotel with a gym so if nothing else I can use that.Chaitali recently posted…Weekly review

Definitely #4! I love walking places, even when the majority of the local population would probably be driving the same route (guess it was my couple years of downtown living that got me out of suburbian car mode). If I know I can fit in runs, I always try to pre-map so I know where I’m going…or should be going!AMP runs recently posted…Tuesdays on the Run: Vacation Running

Yes #1 and #5 for sure! I’m currently in Aspen and I found a race do this weekend-such a great way to see a town and workout. I am working on #5 and hope that I too come back without gaining any weight.Deborah Brooks recently posted…How to stay Fit & Happy while on vacation

I love this! #1 for sure is how most of my vacations are planned in general but even just quick weekends away I try to incorporate a run or active workout somehow.Mar @ Mar on the Run! recently posted…Week 2: Fitting It All In

I’ve run at times on a vacation (It has been a while since I went on vacation! yikes!!), but I’ve never blogged about it. Hmm…
I will admit that I’m not too comfortable running in places I don’t know unless the place is a running destination. I’ve run in NYC while on a work trip. And in Disney on vacation. Oh – and the beach. I love running on the beach!Smitha @ FauxRunner recently posted…Training Recap: What I learnt from Week 1 of HR Training

Great post! I’m leaving for vacation on Saturday and trying to think how I’m going to keep up with my workouts. These are some great tips!Julia @ Vegas Mother Runner recently posted…Cross Training Footwear

#2 is my favorite! I find that I actually eat better while on vacation. I don’t eat as much because I never want to take time out of my day to do it. I visited Ireland a few years ago and it was very easy to not over eat while on vacation there because their meals were so much different than what I would eat at home.Meranda@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…Tips For Staying Fit While On Vacation

Racecations are my guaranteed way to not only make sure I run at least once on vacation, but it also keeps me/gets me in shape before going on said vacation 🙂Stacey recently posted…Tuesday on the Run: Running On Vacation

Walk, walk, walk! I love planning active site seeing activities! I don’t plan a vacation to sit in the room and watch tv! We just came back from Key West and the dry Tortugas was my favorite outing- walking and snorkeling!Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…Keeping Fit in Key West!

Who is MCM Mama?
A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath.

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A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath. Read More…

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